Technical

The genus Phytophthora is composed of 60 species of pathogens that cause considerable damage to trees and shrubs worldwide. Within the UK several species of Phytophthora exist, including P. ramorum, which has had a devastating impact on Japanese larch forests after ‘host jumping’ from rhododendrons and other under storey shrubs. Free water is necessary for Phytophthora to successfully infect a tree and therefore…

In our brand new series, David Vickers looks at how to set up an assisted felling system to give greater control of the felling direction and to remain safe Using ropes and winches to assist with felling trees is fairly common, especially with boundary trees such as those on woodland edges. Such trees will have…

Jon Ives explores a number of the consequences and potential interventions where ash dieback disease is present The arrival of ash dieback disease three years ago alerted professionals and the wider public to yet another exotic disease threatening our native tree population. Unfortunately, what distinguishes Chalara from many other imported pests and diseases is that it cannot be treated…

Emma Schaffert and Luke Hailey of Bartlett Tree Reseach discuss symptoms of and treatments for the cypress aphid Browning of conifer hedging is not an uncommon sight in our towns and cities. There are many possible causes, for example it could be due to overpruning, lack of water, exposure to high winds, fungal diseases and even de-icing…

In the final part of his series on creating mechanical advantage, Dave Vickers looks at using a rope-based system to help with felling trees Last month we saw how to create a system to lift a section of timber when dismantling a tree, before lowering it to the ground. In this final part, we’ll…

Ash dieback’s march across Europe brought it to the UK in 2012. There may not be a cure but recognising the symptoms early on may help with its management. It is three years since Chalara Ash Dieback was first identified in the UK in imported nursery stock and in the wild in East Anglia. This…

Emma Schaffert and Luke Hailey of Bartlett Tree Research discuss the cause, symptoms and treatment of Honey Fungus. Honey fungus or Armillaria root rot is a soil-borne disease that attacks trees’ roots and trunk. It is caused by members of the genus Armillaria, most commonly in the UK by A. mellea and A. gallica. A. mellea is considered…

In the second part of his series on using mechanical advantage, Dave Vickers discusses how to build upon a Portawrap lowering system to more safely dismantle a tree There is some mystique surrounding setting up and using ropes and pulleys to create mechanical advantage. Last month we saw that using a moving pulley provides additional ‘assistance’ when…

Dr Glynn Percival and Jon Banks of Bartlett Trees describe the symptoms of Massaria disease in London Plane Massaria disease of plane (Splanchnonema platani; syn. Massaria platani) is a fungal disease capable of killing the bark and cambium on the branches of London Plane, Platanus x hispanica, resulting in branch drop. The pathogen has been present in the…

Dr Glynn Percival and Emma Schaffert of Bartlett Tree Experts give a rundown on HCLM and how to manage it Since its introduction to Britain in the 1600s, the common white flowering horse chestnut tree (Aesculus hippocastanum) has become one of the commonest ornamental trees in towns, cities, parks and woodlands. Over the past decade this species…

In part two in this series, Dave Vickers of Drivelink Training explains how moving pulleys can be used to create mechanical advantage and increase your pulling power Using ropes and pulleys is a fairly common occurrence in the arboriculture and forestry industry, whether for rigging situations, vehicle debogging or assisting with a fell. Despite this,…

“Give me a lever and a place to stand and I will move the earth.” Dave Vickers of Drivelink Training explains how Archimedes’ boast is relevant to arborists Using ropes and pulleys is common in the arboriculture and forestry industry, whether for rigging, vehicle debogging or assisting with a fell. There appears to be some mystique…